Coventry Conservatives have put forward a plan to protect five key school bus routes following an outcry from parents at the proposal by Coventry City Council to remove subsidies. The Conservatives have set out their ideas in an amendment to Labour’s budget for the year ahead.
The removal of the subsidies would save just £128,000 in the current year which Conservatives believe can be found from efficiencies elsewhere. Also included in the plan is a proposal to boost spending for pothole and highway repairs following feedback from angry residents across the city.
Coventry Conservatives recognise this year’s budget process has been more difficult than usual with inflationary pressures putting a strain on service delivery. However, they believe these amendments are responsible and officers agree they are deliverable.
The Conservative Group have published these amendments in advance of the budget-setting meeting to give the Council time to consider them.
In full, the Conservative Group's amendment proposes:
• Investing £247,000 in highway resurfacing and pothole repair: Addressing a major concern for residents while improving road safety.
• Maintaining mainstream home-to-school bus routes (£128,000): Protecting this vital transportation service for families who rely on it.
• Achieving £375,000 in savings: Identifying areas where resources can be redirected without impacting critical services.
The budget amendment will be moved by Deputy Leader of the Conservative Group, Cllr Peter Male at Tuesday’s meeting. Commenting ahead of the meeting he said: “We recognise the considerable scale of the challenge faced by the Council this year. However, we cannot ignore the legitimate concerns of parents who are worried about school transport. We also get reports about potholes and poor road surfaces every day. So our responsible budget amendment focuses on protecting these essential services while ensuring responsible use of taxpayer funds. We believe it is possible to prioritise safer roads and accessible school transportation, through efficient spending.”
Conservative Group Leader, Cllr Gary Ridley, will second the proposal and said: “I recognise the challenges the Council faces are real. We must avoid the fate of cities like Birmingham who have gone bust, and that means some tough decisions are required. However, I believe this amendment is a balanced response to the priorities which residents have set out during the consultation process. In the longer term, it’s clear that there needs to be a review of the way local government is funded to ensure its sustainability.”
